15 Life Hacks That Will Save You 15 Minutes

Your chore list is so extensive that you aren't sure where to begin. If there were just another hour in the day, your life would be so much easier. Sound familiar? If you need a little extra time to get everything done, try these life hacks from Mental Floss and make some more time in your day!

Presoak your pasta. Over 10 minutes to make spaghetti? That’s ages! Save cooking time by placing your pasta in a bag filled with cold water about an hour and a half before you’re ready to eat. Afterwards, the pasta should only take one minute to cook in a pot of boiling water.

Thaw butter with your cheese grater. What happens when you have practically instant pasta but nothing to put on it? Thawing butter can take ages, but a simple cheese grater will solve this problem. Grate some cold butter over your meal and enjoy!

Double recipes and freeze half. According to a 2004 study, a home-cooked family meal takes around 52 minutes to prepare. Doubling recipes and freezing half for later can significantly reduce future meal prep times. Soups, casseroles, meatballs, and poultry are ideal candidates for doubling up since they’ll last up to six months in a freezer.

Rise, shine and get to the doctors office early. It varies depending on which type of doctor you’re visiting, but the average waiting room time is 23 minutes. You can lower this time by booking wisely. Try to avoid times around 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., which are the most popular appointment times. On average, the shortest office wait times occur on Mondays, while Thursdays drag out the longest waits. Plus, the earlier you schedule your appointment, the less likely your doctor will be running late due to other patients.

Grocery shop on Mondays or Tuesdays. Similarly, time your errands wisely. If you’re making the average 74 grocery trips a year, that’s around 3000 minutes that could be spent elsewhere. According to a 2008 study, Mondays and Tuesdays are the least busy shopping days. If possible, try to go during dinnertime when the checkout lines will be even shorter.

Turn your shower into a steamer. It takes a while to iron, especially since some irons take their time to warm up. Avoid ironing altogether by hanging your clothes in the bathroom while you shower. The heat and the moisture that accumulate in the room will un-wrinkle your threads without any extra work. Just don’t splash around too much!

Automate your thoughtfulness. Register your name for a profile with the e-card websites and flower delivery websites that you use the most. This way, you won’t have to spend time every year typing in your loved one’s address, the occasion, and so on. Not only will you have a safety net that keeps you from forgetting birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays, but your special someone will never receive their gift late again.

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